Devin Garcia

Author

Devin Garcia is a fourth-year student from Ashland, Virginia, double majoring in Women, Gender and Sexuality, and Psychology. She is a member of the Cavalier Marching Band and sometimes plays in the orchestral pit for First Year Players.

May 08, 2018

Art by Kirsten Hemrich

The coming of spring means many things to me: flowers are blooming, the weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining, and soon I’ll have freedom from classes. It also means it’s almost time to break out my summer clothing and put my winter clothes deep in the closet.

To many people, putting the jeans away and putting on shorts brings a sense of freedom. The sun on your shoulders and legs feels good, and finally that months-long chill is gone.

April 19, 2018

Art by Kirsten Hemrich

It happened again, after my friend and I had finished watching the latest Star Trek movie. I was complaining because the first Star Trek show aired in the ‘60s, and it feels as if the way women are portrayed on screen hasn’t come very far in that time. After all, in the first two remade Star Trek movies from 2009 and 2013, all but one of the named female characters show up on screen in their underwear, and the other woman dies in the first thirty minutes of the movie. The third movie, which came out in 2016, was miles better than the first...

March 26, 2018

Art by Kirsten Hemrich

“No means no,” is the slogan many people throw out first when they’re talking about consent. This is supposed to mean that when a person says no to sex, you listen to them. It’s a decent motto for consent, as mottos go, but is it enough?

Many feminists have decided to turn this phrase around. Their motto is, “Yes means yes,” to petition for active, enthusiastic consent, instead of a “continue until she says no” sort of model (I say she because who gets and who gives consent is...

March 01, 2018

“Boys don’t cry.”

“You’re acting like a girl.”

“Man up.”

These are the types of things that people tell boys frequently, and there are negative consequences. Crying is a normal human reaction to excessive emotion. Girls are not told to not cry; in fact, tears are often...

February 09, 2018

Emily Angelotti and Emma Strickland are two second-year students bringing #MeToo to Grounds

If you’re on any sort of social media, you’ve likely seen the hashtag #MeToo posted by someone you know. The number of people who have posted, tagged, and tweeted the phrase has been staggering, and with this comes the shocking realization that so many people face harassment and assault. Because we live in a culture where sexual assault is not often treated seriously, and people who come forward with sexual assault accusations aren’t trusted, it’s no wonder that most people ...

November 14, 2017

Photo taken by Natalie Anna Jacobsen, originally published in C-Ville Weekly.

Do you know that feeling when someone starts talking, and you can immediately tell that they’re brilliant, and you’re instantly captivated? This feeling doesn’t happen very often, but it’s a wonderful surprise every time it does.

When I first heard Rachel Zaslow speak, I knew she had a point of view that was unlike anyone else I had ever met. She was quick-witted, intelligent, and had insight into issues...

November 03, 2017

Art by Kirsten Hemrich

I’ll admit it: I bought a comfort colors Bicentennial shirt. I took one of those free clear bags with the "200" logo emblazoned on the side. I like the idea of being a part of something that’s been around for so long, in a place of education and discovery, with peers who are as interested in knowledge as I am. It’s easy to buy into the huge celebrations UVA is hosting. The Bicentennial launch ceremony was obviously a success, with the huge turnout, and the long, impressive set list that performed that night. The University is putting a lot of money into...

October 18, 2017

There are so many reasons students decide to study abroad. Getting college credit while exploring a new country? Check. Learning about a culture that’s different than yours? Check. Broadening your horizons, both literally and figuratively? Double check. Plus, traveling always makes for cool profile pictures.

September 27, 2017

We’ve all heard the stories about the dangerous frat parties. We know that one in five college women will experience sexual assault by the time she graduates. We’ve seen the stories about party rape and the use of alcohol in sexual assault. We’ve tried to make bystander intervention a part of the college culture, tried giving courses on sexual assault to fraternities, and tried teaching women how to avoid situations that make sexual assault more likely. Maybe we’re looking...